6-hydroxy-and 6-keto-delta-19-norandrostene and pregnene derivatives



United States Patent 3,206,460 6-HYDROXY- AND 6-KET0-A -19-N0RANDR0- STENE AND PREGNENE DERIVATIVES Albert Bowers, Mexico City, Mexico, assignor to Syntex Corporation, Panama, Panama, :1 corporation of Panama No Drawing. Filed Nov. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 236,724

Claims priority, applicaticsn Mexico, Nov. 17, 1961,

21 Claims. (61160-23955) The present invention relates to novel cyclopentanophenanthrene derivatives and to a process for the produc tion thereof.

More particularly the present invention relates to novel 6-hydroxy and 6-keto-A -androstene and pregnene derivatives.

The novel compounds of the present invention are represented by the following formulae:

in the 16cc, 17cc position wherein R and R each represents hydrogen or a lower hydrocarbon residue of less than 8 carbon atoms, which may be saturated or unsaturated, of straight, branched, cyclic or cyclic-aliphatic chain, or aromatic, such as methyl, ethyl, vinyl, phenyl, methylphenyl and the like, or a double bond between C-16 and C17.

The acyl and acyloxy groups are derived from hydrocarbon carboxylic acids containing less than 12 carbon atoms which may be saturated or unsaturated, of straight, branched, cyclic or cyclic-aliphatic chain, or aromatic and may be substituted by functional groups such as hydroXy, alkoxy containing up to 5 carbon atoms, acyloxy containing up to 12 carbon atoms, nitro, amino or halogen. Typical ester groups are the acetate, propionate, enanthate, benzoate, trimethylacetate, t-butylacetate, phenoxyacetate, cyclopentylpropionate, aminoacetate and B-chloropropionate.

325,466 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 The novel compounds of the present invention represented by the above formula A are anabolic-androgenic agents with a favorable anabolic-androgenic ratio. In addition, they have anti-estrogenic, anti-gonadotrophic, anti-fibrillatory and appetite stimulating properites. Fur thermore, they lower the blood cholesterol level, relieve premenstrual tension and suppress the output of the pituitary gland.

The compounds represented by the above formula B are powerful progestational agents with good oral activity. In addition they have anti-androgenic, anti-gonadtrophic and 'anti-estrogenic properties and are very useful in fertility control. Furthermore, they may be used in the treatment of premenstrual tension and exhibit blood cholesterol lowering and diuretic activities. When applied topically, these compounds are very useful in the treatment of acne.

The novel compounds of the present invention are prepared by the process exemplified by the following equation?- III In the above formulae R represents ,B-acetyl or [3-OR Q represents the group:

or the group mately 1 molar equivalent of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano- 1,4-benzoquinone, preferably at room temperature for a period of time of the order of 3 hours, there is obtained the corresponding A 6-keto derivatives (IV).

The compounds of the present invention having a 16a,l7a-ket0nide grouping, yield the corresponding 16a,17a-diols by conventional treatment with an acid, such as acetic acid. The obtained diols, upon conventional esterification in pyridine with an acylating agent, as for example acetic anhydride or caproic anhydride, afford the corresponding 16-acylates.

The latter 16a,17ot-diols upon conventional condensation with a ketone or aldehyde, such as benzaldehyde, acetophenone, methyl-ethyl ketone, acetone, and the like, in the presence of an acid, yield the corresponding 16a,- 17u-methy1enedioxy derivatives, wherein the substituents in the methylenedioxy group may be different from those of the previously hydrolyzed ketonide grouping.

The compounds of the present invention having a secondary hydroxyl group, for example in C3 or C-6, are conventionally acylated in pyridine, with a suitable acylating agent such as a chloride or an anhydride of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid of the type defined hereinbefore, thus affording the corresponding acylates.

The compounds of the present invention having in the molecule a tertiary hydroxyl group, e.g. at C-17, are conventionally esterified in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid with an acylating agent, such as acetic anhydride, caproic anhydride, cyclopentylpropionic anhydride or enanthic anhydride, to produce the corresponding esters.

The following specific examples'serve to illustrate but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention:

PREPARATION 1 There were suspended 10 g. of the diacetate of A androstene-3/3,17,B-diol in 100 cc. of dioxane, 12 cc. of 0.46 N perchloric acid were added and then 4 g. of N- bromoacetamide; the N-bromoacetamide was added little by little, stirring over the period of 1 hour, in the absence of light and at a temperature of about 15 C. Stirring was continued for 1 hour in darkness and at room temperature. The mixture was then decolorized by addition of a 10% aqueous sodium bisulfite solution, there was then added 1 liter of water and the mixture was extracted with methylene chloride; the extract was washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the solvent was evaporated, under reduced pressure and at room temperature, thus giving 5u-bromo-androstane-3,B,- 6,8,17,6-triol 3,17-diacetate.

Following the same technique, there were treated the compounds under I', thus affording the products under 11.

I II

Acetate of pregnenelone Acetate of A -pregnadien-3fl-ol- 20-one.

3-acetate of 5iz-bromopregnane- 3,8,66-di01-20-0ne. 3-acetate of fia-bromo-A -pregnene- 313,6fi-dio1-20-0ne.

PREPARATION 2 The compounds under I were treated in the same manner, thus giving the product under H.

I II

PREPARATION 3 The known compound,3,8,17a-diacetoxy-A -pregnen- 20-one, was successively treated according to preparations 1 and 2 giving respectively: the 3,17-diacetate of 5a.- bromo-pregnane-35,6fi,17a-triol-20-one and the 3,17-diacetate of 5a-bromo-6fi,19-oxido-pregnane-3fi,17a-diol-20- one.

PREPARATION 4 The known compound, the acetate of 16a-methy1-A pregnen-3B-ol-20-one, was treated according to Preparation 1 and 2, giving consecutively: the 3-acetate of cmethyl-5a-bromo-pregnane-3,B,6,B-diol-20-one and the 3- acetate of 16ei-methyl-5a-bromo-6B,19-oxido-pregnan-3eol-20-one.

PREPARATION 5 The acetate of 16B-methyl-A -pregnen-3/3-ol-20-one, obtained by conventional acetylation of the known compound, 16,8-rnethyl-A -pregnen-3fi-ol-20-one, in pyridine with acetic anhydride, was treated according to Preparations 1 and 2 giving successively; the 3-acetate of 16,8- methyl-Sa-bromo-pregnane-35 ,6fl-diol-20-one and the 3- acetate of 16fi-methyl-5a-bromo-6B,19-oxido-pregnan-3fiol-20-one.

PREPARATION 6 The diacetate of 16a-methyl-A -pregnene-3,8,17a-di0l- 20-one, which is a known compound, was treated according to Preparations 1 and 2, giving successively; 3,17- diacetate of 16a-methyl-Sa-bromO-pregnane-35,6,8,17cctriol-20-one and the 3,17-diacetate of IGa-methyl-Sabromo-6,8,19-oxido-pregnane-3B,l7a-diol-20-one.

PREPARATION 7 16oz,l7a-isopropylidenedioxy A -pregnen 3B-ol-20-one (G. Cooley et al., J. Chem. Soc. 4377 (1 955)) was conventionally acetylated in pyridine with acetic anhydride, thus giving the corresponding Ei-acetate, which was treated according to Preparations 1 and 2', giving successively: the 3-acetate of 16a,l7aisopropylidenedioxy-5u-bromo-pregname-3,8,6fi-diol-20-one and the 3-acetate of 16a,l7oc-iSO propylidenedioxy 5a-bromo 6B,l9-oxido-pregnan-3B-ol- 20one.

PREPARATION 8 The acetate of M-androsten-Sfi-ol-17-one was treated according to Preparations 1 and 2, giving successively: the acetate of 5u-bromo-androstane-35,6fl-diol-17-one and the acetate of 5wbromo-6fi,19-oxido-androstan-3B-ol-17-one.

PREPARATION 9 PREPARATION 10 A solution of 1 g. of the acetate of 5a-bromo6fi,l9- oxido-androstan-3fi-ol-17-one in 30 cc. of anhydrous ben- 33. 19-nor-A -androsten-3B-ol-6,17-dione 34. 17a-methyl-19-nor-A -androstene- 3,8,17,8-dio1-6-one 35. 17a-vinyl-19-nor-A -androstene- 36,175-diol-6-one Example IV A mixture of 1 g. of Compound No. 13, 4 cc. of pyridine and 2 cc. of acetic anhydride was kept atroom temperature overnight, poured into ice water, the formed precipitate was filtered, washed with water and dried. Crystallization from acetone-hexane gave 19-nor-A androstene-3[3,6a,17B-triol triacetate (Cpd. N0. 37).

The Compounds Nos. 14 to 36', inclusive, were treated according to the same procedure, thus yielding respectively:

Cpd. No.

38. 19-nor-A -pregnene 3[3,6a-di0l-20-one diacetate 39. 19-nor-A -pregnadiene-36,6a-dil-20-0ne diacetate 40. 19-norA -pregnene=3[3,6a,17u-triol-20-one 3,6-diacetate 41. 16a-methyl-l9-nor-A pregnene-36,6a-diol- -one diacetate 42. 165-methyl-19-n0r-A -pregnene-3B,6a-

diol-20-one diacetate 43. 16a-methyl-19-nor-A -pregnene-3[3,6a,17a-

triol-20-one-3,6-diacetate 44. 16a,17u-isoproplyidenedioxy-l9-nor-A pregnene-3fl,6a-diol-20-one diacetate 45. 19-nor-A -androstene-3fi,6a-diol-l7-one diacetate 46. 17a-methyl-19-nor-A -androstene-3fi,6u,17/3- triol 3,6-diacetate 47. 17a-vinyl-19-nor-A -androstene-35,6a-17ptriol 3,6-diacetate 48. 17a-ethinyl-19-nor-A -androstene-3B,6a,17,8-

triol 3,6-diacetate 49. 19-nor-A -androstene-flfi,17B-diol-6-one diacetate 50. 19-nor-A -pregnen-3B-ol-6,20-dione acetate 51. 19-nor-A -pregnadien-3fi-ol-6,20-dione acetate 52. 19-nor-A -pregnene-3,8,17a-diol-6,20-dione 3-acetate 5 3. 16cz-rnethyl-19-nor-A -pregnen-3B-ol- 6,20-dione acetate 54. 16fi-methyl-19-nor-A pregnen-3/3-ol-6,20-

dione acetate 55. 16a-rnethyl-19-nor-A -pregnene-3,B,17a-

diol-6,20-dione 3-acetate 5 6. 16oz, 17a-isopropylidenedioxy-9 1-nor-A -3p-ol- 6,20-dione acetate 57. 19-nor-A -androsten-3 ,B-ol-6,17-dione acetate 58. 17a-methyl-19-nor-A -androstene-3B,17fidiol-6-one 3-acetate 59. 17a-vinyl-19-nor-A -androstene-3,B,17B-diol- 6-one 3-acetate 60. 17a-ethinyl-19-nor-A -androstene-3fi,17B-

diol-6-one 3-acetate Example V The starting compounds of Example IV were treated following exactly the procedure described in that example, except that acetic anhydride, was substituted by caproic anhydride, enanthic anhydride and cyclopentylpropionic anhydride thus affording respectively the corresponding caproates, propionates, enanthates and cyclopentylpropionates of said starting compounds.

8 Example VI To a solution of 5 g. of Compound No. 16 in cc. of anhydrous benzene there were added 1 g. of p-toluenesulfonic acid and 10 cc. of caproic anhydride and the mixture was allowed to stand for 24 hours at room temperature, poured into ice and water, and the resulting mixture stirred to effect hydrolysis of the excess anhydride. The benzene layer was separated and washed with 10% sodium carbonate solution and water. Drying, evaporation and crystallization of the residue from ether-hexane produced 19-nor-A -pregnene-3 6,6a,17oz-trio1-20-one tricaproate (Cpd. No. 61).

The Compounds Nos. 19, 22, 23, 24, 28, 31, 34, 35 and 36, were treated by the same procedure, thus yielding respectively:

Cpd. No.

62. 1604 methyl 19 nor-A -pregnene-3,8,6a,17a-

triol-20-one tricaproate,

63. methyl-19-nor-A -androstene-3fi,6a,176-

triol-tricaproate,

64. 17a vinyl 19 nor-A -androstene-3fi,6a,17,3-

triol tricaproate,

65. 17a ethinyl-l9-nor-A -androstene-3,8,6a,17,8-

triol tricaproate,

66. 19-nor-A pregnate-3B,17a-diol-6,20-dione dicaproate,

67. 16a-rnethyl 19 norA -pregnene-3 3,17 oc-diOl- 6,20-dione dicaproate,

68. 17a-methyl-19-nor-A -androstene-3,B,17,8-diol- 6-one dicaproate,

69. 17a-vinyl-19-nor-A -androstene-3fl,17,8-diol-6- one dicaproate,

70. 17a-ethinyl-19-nor-A -androsteneafi,17,8-diol- 6-one dicaproate.

Example VII The starting compounds of Example VI were treated following exactly the procedure described in that example, except that caproic anhydride was substituted by acetic anhydride, propionic anhydride, enanthic anhydride and cyclopentylpropionic anhydride thus affording respectively the corresponding acetates, propionates, enanthates, and cyclopentylpropionates of said starting compounds.

Example VIII 2 g. of Compound N0. 61 was dissolved in 50 cc. of methanol and treated with 5 cc. of a 4% aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide; the reaction mixture was stirred for 2 hours under an atmosphere of nitrogen at 10 C.; the mixture was neutralized with acetic acid and the methanol distilled under reduced pressure. The residue was triturated with water and the solid collected, washed with water, dried and recrystallized from ethyl acetate-methanol, thus producing 19-nor-A -pregnene- 3fi,6a,l7a-triol-20-one 17-caproate (Cpd. No. 71).

By the same procedure there was treated Compound No. 66, thus giving 19-nor-A -pregnene-3B,17a-diol- 6,20-dione 17-caproate (Cpd. No. 72).

Example IX 1 g. of Compound No. 20 was heated on the steam bath with 100 cc. of 80% acetic acid under nitrogen for 7 hours, it was then concentrated under vacuum to a small volume and poured into water. The precipitate was collected, washed well with water, dried and recrystallized from acetone-hexane, thus furnishing 19-nor-A -pregnene-3/3,6a,16a,l7a-tetrol-20-one (Cpd. No. 73).

By the same procedure, Compound No. 32 was transformed into 19-nor-A -pregnene-Bfi,16a,17a-triol-6,20- dione (Cpd. No. 74).

Example X The Compounds Nos. 73 and 74 were treated according to Example IV, thus affording respectively: 19-nor-A pregnene 35,604.16,17a-tetrol-20-one 3,6,l6-triacetate alkaline alumina gave in the hexane-benzene (2:3) fracr tions a product, which upon recrystallization from acetone-hexane afforded the B-acetate of 17a-ethinyl-5abromo-6/3,19-oxido-androstane-3/3,17fl-diol.

PREPARATION 1 l A solution of 1 g. of the 3-acetate of 17-ethinyl5ctbromo-6,6,l9-oxido-androstane-3fi,l7B-diol in 40 cc. of pyridine was hydrogenated at 25 C. and 570 mm. in the presence of 400 mg. of pre-hydrogenated 2% palladium calcium carbonate catalyst.

When 1.1 molar equivalent of hydrogen had been absorbed, the reaction was stopped, the catalyst separated by filtration through celite, washed with ethyl acetate and the combined solutions evaporated to dryness in vacuo, yielding the crude vinyl derivative. This crude product was dissolved in ethyl acetate, the organic solution washed with dilute hydrochloric acid and water to neutral, dried and evaporated to dryness. Recrystallization from acetone gave the 3-acetate of 17oz-ViI1Yl-5ubromo-6/3,19-oxido-androstane-3/3,l7B-diol.

Example I To a solution of 2.5 g. of the diacetate of 5oc-bromo- 6,8,19-oxido-androstane-3i3,17fl-dio1 in 50 cc. of acetic acid were added 2.5 g. of chromium trioxide dissolved in 100 cc. of 90% acetic acid, little by little, stirring and at a temperature of about 20 C. It was then kept at this temperature during 24 hours, the product was finally precipitated by addition of ice water and was filtered. By recrystallization from acetone-hexane, there was obtained the 6,19-lactone of the 3 8,17fl-diacetoxy-5tt-bromo-androstan-6fi-ol-19-oic acid (Compound N0. 1).

In the same manner there were treated the starting compounds under I, thus giving the products under II.

bromo-GB,l9-oxidc-pregnane- 3,8,l7a-diol-20-one.

acetate of 5a-bromo6fl,l9- 9 oxido-androstan-3B-ol-17-one.

3-acetate of 17a-ethinyl-5abromo-G/S,19-xido-androstane- 3,8,17B-di0l.

vinyl-M-bromo-androstaneethinyl-m-bromo-androstage-6B,17 3-diol-19-oicaci A solution of 2 g. of the diacetate of ot-hromo-6B,19- oxido-androstane-3j8,175-diol in 50 cc. of carbon tetrachloride, was cooled to -l5 C. and there was added a solution of 1.5 g. of ruthenium tetroxide (prepared according to Berkowitz et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 80, 6682 (1958)) in 10 cc. of carbon tetrachloride. The resulting mixture was left standing overnight. The formed precipitate of ruthenium dioxide was filtered and Washed abundantly with carbon tetrachloride. The organic solutions were combined and evaporated to dryness. Upon crystallization of the residue from acetone-hexane, there was obtained the 6,19-lactone of 35,17,8-diacetoxy-5u-bromo-androstan-6fl-ol-19-oic acid (Cpd. No. 1).

The starting compounds previously set forth were treated by the latter method, giving products identical with those obtained by the first procedure.

Example II A solution of 1 g. of the 6,19-1actone of the 35-175- diacetoxy-5a-bromo-androstan-6;3 ol l9 oic acid (Cpd. No. 1) in 50 cc. of methanol was refluxed for 1 hour with 2.5 g. of potassium hydroxide dissolved in 1 cc. of water; it was poured into ice water and acidified slightly with dilute hydrochloric acid the precipitate collected, washed with water to neutral and dried, thus producing a crude compound which upon recrystallization from methylenechloride-ether-aiforded 19 nor A androstene-3B,6a, 17,8-triol (Cpd. No. 13).

When treating the compounds Nos. 2 to 12, inclusive, by the above procedure, there were obtained respectively: Cpd. No.

14. l9-nor-A -pregnene-35,6a-diol-20-one 15. 19-nor-A -pregnadiene-3,8,6tx-diol--one 16. 19-nor-A pregnene-3fi,6u, l 7a-triol-20-one 17. 16a-methyl-19-nor-A -pregnene-3/3,6a-

diol-ZO-one 18. 1613-methyl-19-nor-A -pregnene-3,B,6u-

di01-20-one 19. 16a-methyl-19-nor-A -pregnene-35,6ot,17u-

triol-20-one 20. 16a,l7ot-isopropylidenedioxy-19-nor-A pregnene-3fi,6a-diol-20-one 21. 19-nor-A -ar1drostene-3 ,8,6 OC-diOll7-one 23. 17a-viny1-19-nor-A -androstene- 3B,6a,l7fi-triol Example 111 A mixture of 1 g. of 19 nor A androstene- 3fl,6zx,l7/3-tri0l (Cpd. No. 13) in 20 cc. of dioxane, and 1.1 molar equivalents of 2,3-dichloro, 5,6-dicyano 1,4- benzoquinone was kept at room temperature for 3 hours. The hydroquinone formed during the reaction was filtered oil, and the filtrate evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in acetone and filtered through 20 g. of alumina. Crystallization from acetone-hexane gave 19- nor-A -androstene-SB,17fl-diol-6-one (Cpd. No.

In the same manner there were treated the compounds Nos. 14 to 24, inclusive, thus yielding respectively:

Cpd. No.

26. l9-nor-A -pregnen-3/3-ol-6,2O-dione 28. 19-nor-A -pregnene-3B,17a-diol-6,20-dione 29. 16zx-methyl-l9-nor-A -pregnen-FaB-ol- 6,20-dione 30. 16fi-methyl-19-nor-A -pregnen-3 B-ol- 6,20-dione 31. 16a-rnethyl-19-nor-A -pregnene-3fi,17a-

diol-6,20-dione 32. 16a,17u-isopropylidenedioxy-19-nor-A pregnen-3B-ol-6,20-dione (Cpd. No. 75) and 19-nor-A -pregnene-3fi,16 x,17atriol-6,20-dione 3,16-diacetate (Cpd. No. 76).

I claim:

1. A compound of the following formula:

wherein R and R are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group of less than 12 carbon atoms; R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl and lower alkynyl, and X is selected from the group consisting of a keto group, an a-hydroxyl group and an a-hydrocarbon carb'oxylic acyloxy group of less than 12 carbon atoms.

2. A compound of the following formula:

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group of less than 12 carbon atoms; X is selected from the group consisting of a keto group, an a-hydroxyl group and an a-hydrocarbon carboxylic acyloxy group of less than 12 carbon atoms; R is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen, a hydroxyl' group and a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyloxy group of less than 12 carbon atoms; T is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen, a-methyl,

,B-methyl, a-hydroxyl and an a-hydrocarbon carboxylic acyloxy group of less than 12 carbon atoms; R and T taken together are selected from the group consisting of a double bond between C-16 and C-17 and the group in the 17a-position wherein R and R are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a lower hydrocarbon residue of less than 8 carbon atoms.

l9-nor-A -androstene-3fl,l7 3-diol-6-one. l9 -n o r-AI -pregnadien-3B-ol-6,2O-dione. l9-nor-A -pregnen-3fl,17a-diol-6,20-dione. 16a-methyl-19-nor-A -pregnen-3fi-ol-6,20-dione. 16fl-rnethyl 19-nor-A -pregnen-3B-'ol-6,20-dione. 16o: methyl-19-nor A -pregnene-3fl,17u-diol- 6,20-dione.

9. 160a,].70t isopropylidenedioxy-19-nor-A -pregnen- 3fl-ol-6,20-dione.

sew-

19. methyl 19-nor-A -pregnene-35,6a-diol- 20-one.

20. 16a methyl 19-nor-A -pregnene-3p,6a,17atriol-20-one.

21. 16oz,17oc isopropylidenedi'oxy-19-nor-A -pregnene-3B,6a-diol-20-one.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,004,045 10/61 Zeelen 260-397.4

LEWIS GOTTS, Primary Examiner. 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE FOLLOWING FORMULA: 